Electric fence insulator



July 8, 1947. G MARKMAN 2,423,785

ELECTRIC FENCE INSULATOR Filed Jan. 21, 1947 2 2 j Inventor George I-'. Markman 30 Fig. 3. V

Patented July 8, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC FENCE INSULATOR George F. Markman, Rcnwick, Iowa Application January 21, 1947, Serial No. 723,289

Claims.

This invention appertains to improvements in insulators adapted particularly for use in electrical fences used to define animal containing areas.

An object of this invention is to provide a fence insulating member which is adapted to be received on a conventional fence post and held in a selected position thereon.

Another object of this invention is to provide improved means for sildably attaching an insulating element to a conventional fence post.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved clamping means for resiliently locking said slidable means on said fence post.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the character described which is adapted to be reused many times and to provide a device which is extremely simple in construction thereby lending itself well to commercial manufacture.

Ancillary objects and features of novelty will become apparent to those skilled in the art, in following the description of the illustrated preferred embodiment, depicted in the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational rear view of the present invention, showing the same in its operative clamping position on a fence post;

Figure 2 is an elevational front view of the invention disclosed in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side view of the invention disclosed in Figures 1 and 2, and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail showing the construction of the clamping means and insulating means in a section taken substantially on the line 44 of Figure 2 and in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now in detail to the illustrated preferred embodiment of the instant invention, like reference characters are used throughout to indicate similar elements.

This invention has been devised for use in electrical fence systems particularly adapted to define animal grazing areas or the like. It is with in the purview of this invention to provide a device which may be used on a conventional fence post and which may be adjusted to predetermined height thereon. Further, this invention provides a, locking or clamping device for holding a conventional insulator in the selected position relative to a conventional fence post.

An ordinary post of the type used extensively in farm lands, is illustrated in the drawings and is designated generally by the reference character ID. A suitable conventional insulator l2 preferably of the inexpensive porcelain type, is provided with the conventional pin l4 therethrough. Suitable head portions l6 and I8 are provided on said pin for holding the pin in the proper fixed relation within the insulator. This construction is conventional in the art and accordingly a further description thereof is deemed unnecessary.

A suitable securing means, preferably a rivet 20 extends from said pin 14 and engages a substantially U-shaped bracket 22. By this construction the bracket 22 is held in substantially fixed relation with the said insulator l2. A plurality of oppositely aligned apertures are provided in the legs of the said U-clamp 22 and are adapted to receive the clamping means 24 therethrough. It is apparent from an inspection of Figure 3, that a single strand of heavy but resilient wire is projecting through the said apertures and held therein by peening the end 26 thereof. The said strand of heavy, resilient wire extends through the aligned apertures and has a bight 28 therein adapted to engage the conventional flange 30 of the fence post l0. As the wire extends exteriorly of the said clamp or bracket 22 a single turn is taken therein in order to form a spring or resilient biasing means 30 in the clamping means 24. A leg 32 is formed as a continuation of the said spring 30 and has a right angular extension 34 thereon. As is obvious from an inspection of Figures 1 and 2, the said extension or latch 34 is adapted to engage the face 36 of the said fence post I0. As the extension 32 is bent or biased toward the face of the said fence post, the bight 28 is resiliently urged against the said flange 30 thereby forming an effective clamping device.

It is noted that the front portion or face of a conventional fence post is provided with a plurality of protuberances 38 longitudinally thereof. The U-shaped clamp 22 is adapted to be received between said protuberances. Accordingly, the insulator 12 may be vertically adjusted in steps between said protuberances. In securing the instant invention to a, fence post, the U-shaped bracket 22 is slipped over the top of a conventional fence post, the latch means 34 being received behind the front plate or face 36 thereof. When the insulating member 12 is received in approximately the desired location, the said latch means 34 is then bent outwardly slightly and pulled around to the front of said fence post. The latch or clip 34 is then permitted to abut said face portion as is seen clearly in Figure 2. It is noted that when the latch means 34 is in the position disclosed in Figure 2, the bight 28 is frictionally binding the said flange 30.

While there has been described a single preferred embodiment of the instant invention, it is apparent to those skilled in the art, that various changes including omissions and additions may be made herein without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, limitation is sought only in accordance with the purview of the appended claims.

Having thus described the instant invention what is claimed as novel and improved is as follows:

1. An insulating device comprising an insulating element, means for slidably attaching said element to a fence post, resilient clamping means for locking said slidable means in a selected predetermined position, said slidable means comprising a U clamp having apertures in the legs thereof, saidclamping means including Wire extending through said apertures engageable with the face of a fence post.

2. An insulating device comprising an insulating element, means for slidably attaching said element to a fence post, resilient clamping means for locking said slida ble means in a selected predetermined position, said resilient clamping and locking means comprising a wire .extending through said slidable means, a bight in said wire adapted to frictionally engage the flange of a fence post, coil in said wire, a leg extending from said coil and an angular extension extending from said leg adapted to engage the face of a fence post thereby exerting force in said bight.

3. An insulatingdevice comprising an insulating element, means for slidably attaching said element to a fence post, resilient clamping means for locking said slidable means in a selected predetermined position, said resilient clamping and locking means comprising a wire extending through said slidable means, bight in said Wire adapted to frictionally engage the flange of a fence post, a coil in said wire, a leg extending from said coil and an angular extension extending from said leg dapted to engage the face of a fence post thereby exerting force in said bight, said slidable means including a U clamp adapted to bereceived between protuberances of a fence post.

4. In an insulating device adapted to be used inelectrical fences, insulating means, a substantially U-shaped member secured to said insulating means, apertures in the legs thereof, a single strand resilient clamping means through said apertures comprising a friction clamp in said resilient means and a latch member in said resilient means adapted to engage the face of a fence post.

5. Means for adjustably mounting an insulator to a fence post comprising an insulating member,

a bracket secured thereto, a resilient strand through said'bracket, a friction clamp in said strand adapted to selectively engage the flange ofa fence post and a leg integral with said strand adapted to engage, the face of a fence post in selected positions thereof.

GEORGE F. MARKMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,235,102 Fleener Mar. 18, 1941' 1,231,068 Saylor' June 26, 1917 2,234,989 Tkach Mar. 18, 1941 

